Ticino. Key Messages Summer 2012.
ticino.ch
Media Relations
Summer is Ticino’s most sparkling season: with our suggestions and ideas we hope to infuse you with enough inspiration to bring you to the southernmost Swiss canton. For more information about these and other topics visit
www.ticino.ch. Also, freely download over 230 high resolution images at www.swiss-image.ch. Visit
www.events.ticino.ch to find out about all the exciting events and make sure you don’t miss anything!

« I love Piazza Grande ».
Locarno | 05. – 15.07.2012
The Moon and Stars series of concerts was launched for the first time in 2004
and it is now an established part of the schedule of the international festival.
The atmosphere in Locarno’s Piazza Grande enchants both the fans and the
stars of the music scene. The singer Pink called Piazza Grande “the most
beautiful square in the world”. It has also won the heart of Lenny Kravitz, who
said “I love Piazza Grande. It is a place full of history and romanticism”. This
year Kravitz will be back in the square for the third time. The following artists
will also be performing there: Ligabue, Status Quo, Gotthard, Elton John, Herbert Grönemeyer, Laura Pausini and Unheilig.
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The largest open-air cinema in the world.
Locarno | 01. – 11.08.2012
In early August, Piazza Grande in Locarno turns into the largest open-air cinema in the world. Throughout the film festival, the gentle, timeless air of Hollywood blows through the city on the northernmost shore of Lake Maggiore. It is
the biggest cultural event in Switzerland. Hundreds of films will be screened
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this year, at the 65 festival. The Golden Leopard award will be presented to
the best film in the competition and a retrospective will pay tribute to the Hollywood great Otto Preminger.
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A jazz beat.
Ascona | 21.06. – 01.07.2012
Jazz lovers in Ticino can quench their thirst for music at the Ascona Jazz Festival. Under the stars, against the picturesque backdrop of Lake Maggiore,
people flock to experience the pure magic of over 400 hours of live music. The
sounds of jazz fill all of the squares in the town centre. Other popular events of
this kind include Estival Jazz in Mendrisio and Lugano, Vallemaggia Magic
Blues in Vallemaggia and Blues to Bop in Lugano.
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Hermann Hesse, 50 years on from his death.
Montagnola.
Did you know that Hermann Hesse, the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature,
lived in Ticino for many years? By his own admission, when Hesse moved to Ticino in 1919 he was nothing but “a small-time writer who had gone to seed”.
However, in Montagnola he flourished and in the Collina d’Oro area he wrote
works such as Siddhartha, Klingsor's Last Summer and Narcissus and Goldmund, which would eventually earn him a Nobel Prize. He drew inspiration from
his regular hikes and strolls in the lake and mountain landscape around Lugano.
The Museum of Montagnola is now celebrating and remembering the writer on
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the 50 anniversary of his death.
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The art of inventing water.
Revöira ethnographic itinerary, Verzasca Valley.
Lavertezzo is generally associated with the sight of the double-arched bridge on
the River Verzasca. It is hard to imagine that part of the valley was once affected by water shortages, but the central point on this route is the breathtaking water supply system on the left side of the valley – on the Revöira and Ca d Dént
mountains – which provided the solution to the severe scarcity of water on the
south-western face of Föpia (2106 m), the mountain that stands over Lavertezzo. Since April, it has finally been possible to follow this route and explore
the ponds and pools of Revöira and Ca d Dént.
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8. Swiss Cheese Awards.
Bellinzona | 27. – 30.09.2012
For the first time in their history, the Swiss Cheese Awards are pushing beyond
the Alps into the southern canton of Ticino. The prestigious international competition will be held in Bellinzona, which is expected to host more than 20,000 devoted cheese lovers and dabbling gourmets who are interested in tasting the
best that Switzerland has to offer. As well as sampling them, it will also be possible to buy the different cheeses on display. Bellinzona will be packed with
stands offering hard and soft cheeses from all over the country. A number of
side events will provide entertainment throughout the town for the duration of
the initiative.
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Martha Argerich.
Lugano | 06. – 28.06.2012
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The 11 Martha Argerich Project will once again bring together 60 or so artists
around the great pianist in Lugano. Young talents and renowned performers
will take to the stage in pairs, chamber music groups and with the Orchestra
della Svizzera Italiana (Orchestra of Italian Switzerland) to play rarely heard
compositions and masterpieces from the traditional repertoire.
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200 years of Napoleonic troops.
Leontica, Blenio Valley | 22. - 24.06.2012
In the Blenio Valley, the feast of Saint John the Baptist marks the start of a series of religious celebrations at which an old tradition is repeated every year:
they are attended by Napoleonic troops. It is said that the troops from the area
who were involved in the disastrous Russian campaign in 1812 promised the
Virgin Mary that they would forever testify their faith by wearing their costumes
and playing their music at the village fêtes. The tradition lives on today. At the
celebrations for Leontica’s patron saint John the Baptist in late June, there is a
parade of troops in Napoleonic costumes. The same display can also be seen
during the feasts of the Virgin Mary in Aquila (30/06 – 01/07/2012) and Ponto
Valentino (14 – 16/07/2012).
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Sasso San Gottardo.
Airolo | From 04.08.2012
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In the 20 century, Sasso San Gottardo was a secret fortified facility. This
“bunker” has now been converted into a themed venue which will be open to
visitors from 4 August. Sasso San Gottardo offers access to the bowels of the
Gotthard Massif. Inside the mountain, visitors will be presented with the topics
of water, mobility and habitat, meteorology and climate, energy, and security.
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The Four Sources Path.
Airolo.
The Via delle quattro sorgenti (Four Sources Path) is a unique circular mountain route. It goes past the sources of four important rivers whose waters flow
in four different countries: the Rhine, the Reuss, the Rhone and the Ticino.
The path runs through breathtaking Alpine scenery and it can be divided into
a number of stages. Along the way, it is possible to stay in mountain huts, including the recently renovated Ospizio San Gottardo.
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Gorging in the grottoes!
Ticino.
To the delight of all gourmets, summer is the time to visit the “grottoes” of Ticino. These extremely popular rustic eating places serve simple, tasty food
based on local culinary traditions. The grottoes get their name from the fact
that many of them are carved out of natural caves. They were originally used
as cellars for storing food items such as cured and cooked meat and cheese.
Now they are the ideal place to enjoy a wholesome meal in natural surroundings that offer respite from the hot summer sun.
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From palm trees to glaciers.
Robiei, Bavona Valley | 16.06. – 07.10.2012
The Basòdino glacier is the most impressive and important glacier in Ticino. It
can be found in the Robiei area of the Alps, at an altitude of between 2600
metres and 3273 metres. If you wish to see this spectacular natural Alpine
phenomenon, a cable car will take you on a scenic journey through the sky
from San Carlo to Lake Robiei, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the
northern Bavona Valley. A number of hiking routes wind their way around the
feet of the majestic mountains. Among them is a recently opened path that is
devoted entirely to the glacier. It is approximately 10 kilometres long and it is
the ideal way to discover the Basòdino area: an exceptional geological and
geomorphological setting with a wealth of flora
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and fauna.

The pearls of the lake.
Brissago.
The Brissago Islands are considered the “pearls of Lake Maggiore”. The larger
of the two islands (San Pancrazio) is home to a botanical garden containing approximately 1700 species of plants from the Mediterranean, Subtropical Asia,
South Africa, the Americas and Oceania. The subtropical microclimate of the islands makes this remarkable collection possible. The islands are surrounded by
the waters of the lake, protected by the Alps and bathed in sunlight, so they enjoy an extremely mild climate, with just a few days of frost a year.
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Pedal power.
Ambrì | 22.07.2012
The Granfondo San Gottardo amateur cycling race is back. In 2012, the competition in the heart of the Swiss Alps – which is open to everyone – will take place
for the second time. The complete route stretches out over 110 km and it will
get the competitors’ legs working hard with its elevation gain of 3000 metres
and 40 km of climbs! The backdrop to all of this is a spectacular natural landscape, with magnificent coniferous woods, majestic valleys and perpetually
snow-capped peaks. It promises to be a fantastic experience…
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Losone’s leading ladies.
Losone | 11. – 17.06.2012
The Gerre golf course in Losone plays host to an event with one of the biggest prize funds on the “Ladies’ European Tour”. During the Deutsche Bank
Ladies’ Swiss Open, the best players in Europe will battle it out on an enchanting course that has been masterfully shaped in the midst of a typically
Mediterranean natural environment. Some big stars will be taking part, so
fireworks are guaranteed on the greens.
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The sport of kings.
Ascona | 12.07. – 15.07.2012
The Ascona Polo Cup is run by one of the best and most organized clubs in
Switzerland. From 12 to 15 July, members and enthusiasts are invited to take
a close look at this fascinating sport. Once again this year, polo players from
Switzerland and other countries will compete for the trophy. There will be
three days of thrilling matches in the former Ascona aerodrome, where a spirit
of fair play will naturally prevail.
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All-round adrenalin: Ticino Trail.
Airolo | 04.08. – 05.08.2012
Four Alpine valleys, 28 lakes, mountain villages, meadows and extraordinarily
beautiful views: all of this is on offer in northern Ticino for the brave souls that
dare to follow one of the routes in the first Trail Ticino event. The aweinspiring trail running course features 8400 metres of elevation gain on a 117
km route that goes through 12 passes and the Leventina, Blenio, Lavizzara
(in the northern Vallemaggia area) and Bedretto valleys. The runners will be
largely left to their own devices and they will complete the race in one go, in
an event that will go all the way to the line.
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Death-defying divers!
Ponte Brolla | 20. – 21.07.2012
On the valley floor, among the rocks smoothed by the waters of the River
Maggia – which forms beautiful dark blue pools – there are magnificent potholes which provide the perfect setting for either basking in the sun or cooling
off in the clear water. The splendid natural surroundings in Ponte Brolla are
famous for the daring feats of those who love to dive from great heights, and it
even hosted the world championships. The competitors dive into the crystalclear water from a height of 26 metres and they reach speeds of almost 100
km/h.
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Hotel news.
Ticino.
The range of accommodation options in Ticino is growing and becoming more
and more attractive. The Giardino Group recently opened a new establishment
in Minusio: the Giardino Lago Boutique Hotel. It is the ideal place to stay, eat,
celebrate and relax while breathing in the magical atmosphere of Lake Maggiore. Summer will bring plenty more new possibilities. For example, the Hotel
Gabbani in the heart of Lugano’s old town centre aims to offer varied stays for
guests of all kinds, from businessmen to families and roaming tourists. In Paradiso, in the district of Lugano, a new Ibis/Novotel Hotel with around 250 rooms
will be opening its doors. The Novotel establishment will be open all year round
and it will be ideal for business trips, relaxing holidays and revitalizing weekends. Fresh energy will be injected into high-quality tourism in the Locarno urban area by the Hotel La Rinascente, with its modern restaurant and 16 rooms
with large outdoor areas.
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A card for the whole of Ticino.
Ticino.
Would you like to be able to get around the whole of Ticino for three days with a
single pass? It is now possible with the Ticino Discovery Card! This exclusive,
universal pass allows you to go wherever you like by public and tourist
transport in the urban areas and valleys of the canton of Ticino. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more,
the bargain price also includes entrance to a number of tourist attractions,
which you can travel to and visit using the environmentally friendly transport
possibilities offered by your card!
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